Vehicle-spring.



A. A. KENT. VEHICLE sPmNs. APPLICATION FIYLED MA?. 23| 1917.

1,288,915. n 4 1 PutentedhDeC.24,1918.

' lil/VENTO? w1 Tlv-Essaie TED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR ALXIA'IER KENT, OF ROSEMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

specification of Letters latent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Application filed March 23, 1917. Serial No. 157,018.

specification.

This invention relates to vehicle springs and more particularly to those for automobiles or' similar vehicles whereby the chassis or body of the vehicle is yieldingly supported upon the axles or .running gear.

The objects of this invention are to provide a spring for the purposes above indi cated in which each leaf or member of a composite spring structure is so supported and connected with Ithe vehicle body that each leaf exerts its tension or resiliency undiminished by the action of the other leaves or members. A

A. further object of my invention is to provide a spring construction in which dur ing the tlex'm thereof, all friction due to rubbing or slicing of one leaf longitudinally of the others is eliminated; to provide a more resilientspring construction; to equalize thefamount of weight borne by the various members orlseaves of the spring, and to provide a constra'iction in which all noise, squeaking and ofealting are obviated, as the spring leXes under various pressures due to whatever causes as the unevenness of the road .and other differences in the. load imposed upon the springs.

Other objects of my invention will ap pear in the specification and claims below.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe specifications, and in which similar reference characters are employed throughout the various views to designate the same parts, Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a portion of the frame of a vehicle with my improved spring attached thereto, parts of the spring structure being shown in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a similarv view. showin the position of the spring and the parts tiereof under the action of a greater load than that indicated in Fig. l;-

Fig. 3 isa side view partly in section of the detail of construction, the same being shown on an enlarged scale as compared with the scale of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. tis a perspective view of one ofthe hangers attached to' theends of the spring and serving to hold the ends of the leaves of the spring 1n spaced the spring.

be of any improved construction and it is proved spring 3, the subject matter of this application. The axle 2 is rigidly mounted in a bracket or bolster #L and to the top of this bracket is secured a composite spring, by means of U-shaped straps 5 passlngv through suitable apertures in the bracket Ll and inclosing orsurrounding the sprin between, and preferably midway, the en s of The spring 3 consists of a lower leaf 6 and upper leaf 7 and intermediate leaves 8 8, allot substantially the same length and extending parallel to each other. The central portion of the lower leaf preferably rests upon the top of the bracket 4. Next above it and supported upon the top side of the leaf 6 is a thin spacing bar 9. Resting upon this spacing bar 9 is the lower of the intermediate springs S. Above this is a Second spacing bar 10. Above this spacing bar is the upper ofthe intermediate leaves 8; above the latter leaf is a third spacing bar 11 and resting upon this spacing bar 11 is the upper 'supported from the axle 2 through the iin-p` leaf 7. The spacing bars 9, 10 and 11 are t slightly longer than the distance between the U-shaped straps 5-5 so that the straps pass around the leaves ofl the spring and over the endsot the spacing bars. Preferably a fourth bar 12, similar to thespacing bars 9, l0 and 11, is placed above the upper leaf 7 similarly extending under the straps 5-5 to provide 'throughout an iniiexible structure immediately above the axle 3.

From the end of the frame 1 depends a hanger 13 (shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 4), said hanger heilig pivotedly mounted on a bolt or pivot pin 14 of the hanger 13 passing through the end of the frame 1 and fitted in alined openings 15 in the hanger 13.. This hanger consists of the bolt or pin 14, two depending parallel sides 16--16 and a cross bar 17, preferably cir cular in cross section, at its lower side. Between the pivot pin or bolt 14 andt `e cross bar 17 are a plurality of parallel inerxnediate'crossjbars 18-18--18, said intermediate bars being preferably square 0r rhomboidal,

or circular, in cross `Section and providingv 'l`he upper leat T preferably passes under the pivot pin 1l ahove the upper ei'oss hai' 1S and is hent around the said pivotvpin 1l. The t'ree end ot' the iippei' of the intermediate leaves passes through `the opening 1f) in the hanger and hears against the under side ot' the ei'oss har 1S immediately above upper end ot whieh is supported on a pivot pin 2? eai'i'ied hy a hi'aeket 2l rigidly seeui'ed to the said hai' or'ti'aine 1 ot' the vehiele. j

lieterahly the t'ree ends ot' t'lie intermediate leaves H-H ai'e redueed somewhat iii thie'kness in order that' they may pass freely through their respeetive openings 1f) and 2t) in the haiigei's lil. and in oi'der that the intermediate eros-s hars 1h' may he as heavy as inay he required without making the hangers unduly or,unneeessarily long. Y

'l`he modified torni ot' hanger. shown in Fig. 5 eonsists ot two vei'tieal side plates ltlt' eoiineeted together hy pins or holts th" having their ends riveted to the side hars lti. 'l`he tops ot' the side hars lo are provided with ained openings lo to reeeive the pivot ll t'i'oni whieh the 'hanger depends t'roiii the traine l. ln this ease the upper sides of the intei'inediate leaves will hear against the'iinder sides ot' the two intermediate bolts 1S preferably eireular in eross seeiion: the upper leat' T will have its l'i'ee end similarly lient ai'oiiiid they pivot pin ll oi' 1l litting'in the openings 15 in the-top ot' the hangerI 13 and the. Vt'ree ends ot' the lowei' leaf will passlii'st over the lowei' holt 1S and thenee around it in the saine manner as' that. desei'ihed in eonneetionwith the lower eross hai' 17 of the hanger t3,

With the above eonsti'uetion itV will be seen that as the spring is texed iiizder varying loads the, hangers and the leaves ot' the spring' will always he parallel with eaeli other and the load will lie taken up hy the. ends ot'l the leaves throughout the entire length through whieh they are llexed: there will lie i'io sliding ,or ereepiiiglongitudinally ot the leaves over eaeh other ain' the eonsequent ei'ezikiiig oi' stliieaking is entirely oh-- under varying loads. hut' the leaves will always he parallel to eaeh other and the hangers will also he always parallel to each other'.

The ahove eonstruetion is simple. easily eonsti'ueted and asseinhled and provides tor equal dist rihution ot' the load upon all ot' the leaves otl the spi'iiie': it is. ot' eourse. ohvious that inoi'e oi' fewer than two intermediate vsprings may he employed depending upon 4the eapaeity ot' the vehiele and the load ret'ranie. and pivotally eonneeted to the adja` leent ends otI the upper and lower leaves of said sprintf. a link pivoted at one end 'to said traine. aml a seeoiid hanger. similar to the tii'st ahove mentioned hanger. and similarly pivotally eonneeted to the other ends otl said leaves. and pivoted to the t'ree end ot said link.

2. The eoniliination with the t'ranie of a vehiele and an axle therefor. ot' a spring rigidly-seeured hetween its ends to said axle and eoniprising an upper and a lower lea t',

parallel to and 'spared' t'i'oni .eaehother throughout theirlength. a pair ot' hangers `one at eaeh end ot' sind Ispring. iespeetively.

the t'ree adjaeent ends ot' thenpper and lower leaves heilig pivotally attaehed to one hanger. the opposite adjaeent ends of the upper and lower leaves heing similarly pivotally attaehed to the other hanger. and a link pivoted to said t'raine. one otl said hang'- ei's heilig pivoted to said t'raine and the other ot' said'hangers heilig pivotally attai'hed to said link.

Il. rl`he eoinhiiiation with the frame ot a vehiele and an axle therefor. ot' la spring eomprising an upper. a lowe' and an intermediate lez/it'. pa 'allel to ainl spaeed from eaeh other throughout their length. a pair ol hangers. one at eaeh end ot' said spring. respeetively. the t'i'ee adjacent ends ot' the upper and llower leaves heilig pivotally attaehed to one haiigei'. the opposite adja'eent ends ot the upper and lower leaves heing similarly pivotally attached to the other hanger` and a link pivoted to said t'ranie. one ol" said hangers heilig pivoted to said ti'anie. and the other of said hangersllwi'ng pivotally attaehed to said link. eaehjhangerbeing provided with a eross har against, whieh the 't'i'ee end vot' said intermediate leat lill) continually 'presses in supporting 'relation with respect` to the loadof said spring. v

The combination with the frame of a `vehicle and an` axle therefor., of a spring comrlsingfa plurality of parallel resilient eares,sspa,cing means intermediate the ends of said leaves, means to clamp said leaves vand spacing means rigidly to said axle, .a pair of hangers, one at each end of :said

spring, re'spectivelyV and against which the free ends of saidleaves continual!)v press in 'supporting relation with respect to the load` -on said spring, and a link pirated-to said frame,uone of saidhangers being pivoted to ivoted to'said' link.

said frame and the other of said hangers being 5 o. `lie-'combination with the fra-meot av vehicle andl an axle therefor, of a spring' comprising a 'pluralityl ot"l parallel'-leayes. means to hohl said leaves out of enga-gement A with each other throughout their length,

' comprising a plurality-of leaves,'a'll of which leaves are parallel to eachother, means 4to hold 'said leaves out' ofI engagement with each other 'tlirouglioiit`-tlieir length, comprising a. Spacer between adjacentleages and-rbetwe'en.

the ends ot the spring and means to rigidly secure said leaves and spacers to said axle,

and a paii of hangers. one at each end7 vvrespectively, of -saidspring and to which the outer-leaves are pivotally connectedV at separate points inVv supporting relation to the load on said spring-each intermeiliate leaf being also in continual load supporting engageinen n'itli'said hangers.

T; vT he conihination with the traine ot' a vehicle and an a.\:letherefor` ot aspringcomprising'a pluralityy ot' spaced leaves all of which are out of. contact with each other and parallel to each other throughouttheir length, and apair of hangers. one at each Yend` respectively-ot said spring and each provided'witli parallel ycross hars rigid there.-

wi'tlnthe treel 'ends ot the outer leaves each encircling a cross har ot' the vhanger adjacent thereto.

" tl. The combination 'with the frame of a vehicle and an 'axle therefor, of a spring i' comprising a plurality ot' spaced ,leaves-- all of which are parallel toeach other andout of contact with each other throi-iglioi-it their len rth. and' a 'iair of'hanrersiime at each end` respwtively. otl said spring and eachv provided withpa'rallel cross hars rigid there.- with, the 'free ends ot the outer leaves each i encircling a cross bamof the hanger adjacentl vthereto and any and all intermediate' ileai'es `engaging at the tends thereof across llar in' Vload supporting relation.`

In witnesswlier-eot I have hereunto set. my hand this17th day of Marchy'll.

ARTHUR AfrwATER, KENT. 'A 

